At the core of MARGN, founders Ranjit and Saurabh research and explore human systems. Human systems are the small cultures human beings have developed over time—built on an instinctual need for survival. These systems appear everywhere, often unnoticed. People tie objects to protect them, package goods to safeguard them, and layer themselves with clothes for protection. From ragpickers recycling waste to the water distribution networks that sustain everyone on this planet, these everyday practices show how survival shapes the way we live.

Each season, MARGN’s collections begin from this research—SS24 looked at packaging and layering as protection, FW24 explored storage, and SS25 focused on water distribution. For the brand, understanding both the form and the mechanics of these systems is essential to the design process.

MARGN views these systems not as grand cultural structures, but as smaller cultures embedded in daily life—cultures that are equally vital for survival. Many of these practices trace back to the rural parts of India where both founders grew up, shaping their perspective on hand-making and conscious living.
The place where Saurabh comes from, for example, still does not have an electricity line. Life there continues through mechanical means and older methods, giving rise to ways of living that are both sustainable and deeply human. These origins ground MARGN’s work in realities often overlooked within the larger cultural discourse.

Their upbringing also shaped their view of craft. They grew up watching their mothers stitch kantha quilts from old bedsheets and saris, reuse every
plastic bag until its last breath, and mend umbrellas with fabric or plastic patches. For them, craft was never just about beauty or art—it was about survival. In rural life, when resources are scarce, making by hand sustains you. These acts may not always be celebrated as “craft,” but they carry its essence: resourcefulness, resilience, and meaning. This understanding continues to drive MARGN’s work today, where craft is seen not just as handmade, but as a system of survival that has existed for generations.